From "one of the master naturalists of our time" (American
Scientist), a fascinating exploration of what seashells reveal about
biology, evolution, and the history of life
Geerat Vermeij wrote this "celebration of shells" to share his
enthusiasm for these supremely elegant creations and what they can teach
us about nature. Most popular books on shells emphasize the
identification of species, but Vermeij uses shells as a way to explore
major ideas in biology. How are shells built? How do they work? And how
did they evolve? With lucidity and charm, the MacArthur-winning
evolutionary biologist reveals how shells give us insights into the
lives of animals today and in the distant geological past.